All Shlokas | Sanskrit.Today

रे रे चातक सावधानमनसा मित्र क्षणं श्रूयताम्
अम्भोदा बहवो वसन्ति गगने सर्वेऽपि नैकादृशाः ।
केचिद्वृष्टिभिरार्द्रयन्ति धरणीं गर्जन्ति केचिद्वृथा
यं यं पश्यसि तस्य तस्य पुरतो मा ब्रूहि दीनं वचः ॥ ५१॥

Again addressing the chataka bird, the poet advises caution. The sky has many clouds, but not all are alike. Some pour nourishing rain, while others o...

नीतिशतकम् - Nitishatakam (110) chataka (11) cloud (56) rain (91) patience (122) discrimination (65) wisdom (1611) benefactor (3) dignity (146) guidance (149) discernment (142) prudence (75) loyalty (180) humility (596) philosophy (290) advice (48)

अकरुणत्वमकारणविग्रहः परधने परयोषिति च स्पृहा ।
सुजनबन्धुजनेष्वसहिष्णुता प्रकृतिसिद्धमिदं हि दुरात्मनाम् ॥ ५२॥

The verse describes the natural traits of wicked people (दुरात्मा). They are characterized by cruelty without cause, eagerness for quarrels, greed for...

नीतिशतकम् - Nitishatakam (110) wicked (15) cruelty (55) quarrel (29) greed (141) adultery (13) jealousy (88) intolerance (3) corruption (65) evil (40) nature (950) vice (45) immorality (6) moral lesson (8) vigilance (45) bad company (19)

दुर्जनः परिहर्तव्यो विद्ययालङ्कृतोऽपि सन् ।
मणिना भूषितः सर्पः किमसौ न भयङ्करः ॥ ५३॥

Here, the poet compares a wicked man to a snake adorned with a jewel. Even if such a person is ornamented with learning and knowledge, he remains dang...

नीतिशतकम् - Nitishatakam (110) wicked (15) knowledge (279) danger (229) serpent (37) comparison (402) morality (248) virtue (726) education (44) hypocrisy (141) wisdom (1611) deceit (83) character (259) superficiality (32) vigilance (45) ethics (803)

जाड्यं ह्रीमति गण्यते व्रतरुचौ दम्भः शुचौ कैतवं
शूरे निर्घृणता मुनौ विमतिता दैन्यं प्रियालापिनि । (निर्घ्ऱ्६इणता ऋजो)
तेजस्विन्यवलिप्तता मुखरता वक्तर्यशक्तिः स्थिरे
तत्को नाम गुणो भवेत्स गुणिनां यो दुर्जनैर्नाङ्कितः ॥ ५४॥ (भवेत्सुगुणिनां)

This complex verse explains how virtues are misinterpreted by the wicked. Modesty is seen as dullness, devotion as hypocrisy, purity as deceit, courag...

नीतिशतकम् - Nitishatakam (110) virtue (726) misinterpretation (4) wicked (15) hypocrisy (141) distortion (7) misunderstanding (41) courage (146) humility (596) eloquence (61) pride (317) weakness (61) morality (248) society (152) judgment (94) philosophy (290)

लोभश्चेदगुणेन किं पिशुनता यद्यस्ति किं पातकैः
सत्यं चेत्तपसा च किं शुचि मनो यद्यस्ति तीर्थेन किम् ।
सौजन्यं यदि किं गुणैः सुमहिमा यद्यस्ति किं मण्डनैः
सद्विद्या यदि किं धनैरपयशो यद्यस्ति किं मृत्युना ॥ ५५॥

This verse highlights the supremacy of inner qualities over external means. If greed itself is sin, then what need is there of other vices? If truth e...

नीतिशतकम् - Nitishatakam (110) truth (300) purity (356) greed (141) virtue (726) austerity (57) pilgrimage (22) generosity (169) knowledge (279) fame (166) morality (248) simplicity (130) wisdom (1611) detachment (573) ethics (803) intrinsic values (1)

शशी दिवसधूसरो गलितयौवना कामिनी
सरो विगतवारिजं मुखमनक्षरं स्वाकृतेः ।
प्रभुर्धनपरायणः सततदुर्गतः सज्जनो
नृपाङ्गणगतः खलो मनसि सप्त शल्यानि मे ॥ ५६॥

The poet laments seven painful sights: the moon faded by day, a woman whose youth has passed, a lotus pond bereft of flowers, a face devoid of charm, ...

नीतिशतकम् - Nitishatakam (110) sorrow (325) irony (348) moon (394) youth (261) beauty (1797) decay (115) nobility (253) misfortune (65) wicked (15) injustice (73) court (16) ruler (55) wealth (447) pain (225) philosophy (290)

न कश्चिच्चण्डकोपानामात्मीयो नाम भूभुजाम् ।
होतारमपि जुह्वानं स्पृष्टो दहति पावकः ॥ ५७॥

The verse declares that kings of fierce anger recognize no one as their own. Just like fire burns even the priest offering oblations, such wrathful ru...

नीतिशतकम् - Nitishatakam (110) king (200) anger (185) wrath (27) ruler (55) tyranny (6) destruction (292) fire (219) indiscriminate (1) harm (53) governance (214) loyalty (180) metaphor (1632) power (396) danger (229) caution (269)

मौनान्मूकः प्रवचनपटुर्वातुलो जल्पको वा
धृष्टः पार्श्वे वसति च सदा दूरतश्चाप्रगल्भः ।
क्षान्त्या भीरुर्यदि न सहते प्रायशो नाभिजातः
सेवाधर्मः परमगहनो योगिनामप्यगम्यः ॥ ५८॥

This profound shloka explains the complexities of serving a king. A silent man is mistaken as dumb, a good speaker as mad, a bold man as insolent, a s...

नीतिशतकम् - Nitishatakam (110) service (114) paradox (167) king (200) court (16) judgment (94) duty (198) silence (94) patience (122) loyalty (180) governance (214) misjudgment (43) hardship (47) irony (348) complexity (11) philosophy (290)

उद्भासिताखिलखलस्य विश्रुङ्खलस्य
प्राग्जातविस्तृतनिजाधमकर्मवृत्तेः ।
दैवादवाप्तविभवस्य गुणद्विषोऽस्य
नीचस्य गोचरगतैः सुखमाप्यते कैः ॥ ५९॥

This shloka describes the misery of seeing a wicked, immoral, and uncontrolled man, whose base deeds are well-known, suddenly rise to prosperity throu...

नीतिशतकम् - Nitishatakam (110) wicked (15) prosperity (136) injustice (73) fate (402) corruption (65) virtue (726) suffering (358) sorrow (325) frustration (39) undeserving (3) success (142) society (152) inequality (13) immorality (6) philosophy (290)

आरम्भगुर्वी क्षयिणी क्रमेण
लघ्वी पुरा वृद्धिमती च पश्चात् ।
दिनस्य पूर्वार्धपरार्धभिन्ना
छायेव मैत्री खलसज्जनानाम् ॥ ६०॥

Friendship is compared to shadows. With wicked men, friendship begins with grandeur but gradually declines and fades. With noble men, it may begin sma...

नीतिशतकम् - Nitishatakam (110) friendship (209) wicked (15) noble (16) contrast (206) growth (95) decline (52) shadow (19) relationships (94) character (259) discernment (142) loyalty (180) virtue (726) morality (248) wisdom (1611) time (242)